A sheriff's deputy stationed on the Sonoma Coast and State Parks rangers began a search and Mitchell's car was found parked and unoccupied on Carlevaro Way in Bodega Bay around 8 p.m. Sunday.

There was nothing suspicious about the scene where the vehicle was found and foul play is not suspected in his disappearance, the sheriff's office said. Mitchell's disappearance is now being considered a missing person's case.

Foche said deputies, Sonoma County Search and Rescue as well as the helicopter team Henry-1 joined in the effort to find Mitchell but turned up empty handed after hours of searching.

"I hope he’s just been lost and will be found – I certainly hope so," fellow attorney Peter Steiner said. "It would be a tremendous blow to so many people, I think, personally and professionally, if he’s not found."

The missing person's case has been turned over to the Violent Crimes Investigation unit as is standard protocol.